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Disability Rights Wisconsin seeks a Public Policy Coordinator to participate in developing/implementing overall state and federal public policy strategy:

Will track relevant state and federal legislation and budget issues

Provide a variety of support to the partner agencies their public policy work

Work with other disability organizations on public policy strategies

Work directly with legislators and legislative staff

Provide training on public policy issues to consumers and families

Coordinate state and federal legislative and policy activities of several disability organizations in Wisconsin

This position is based in Madison and is .8 FTE. For a detailed position description click here. EEO/AA employer committed to a diverse workforce. Submit resume and cover letter to hr@drwi.org. Deadline: December 19, 2016 to be considered for 1st round of interviews.

People with disabilities need their voices heard in Washington and Madison.

Since the election it has become clear that there are big changes on the horizon for people with disabilities. Access to healthcare, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and Home and Community Based Services are all at stake.

Now, more than ever it is important that people with disabilities have a voice in how, when, and if programs and policies are changed.

At Disability Rights Wisconsin we empower people with disabilities to exercise the full extent of their rights and pursue the greatest possible quality of life.

We work in coalition with people with disabilities, other agencies, and advocates, to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are protected.

We give voice to their concerns with state and national policymakers – and we have incredibly successful.

This year, Disability Rights Wisconsin strengthened the rights of children with disabilities in the child protective services system through legislative advocacy.

In the coming months we will be working hard to maintain the hard won gains and resist changes that will exclude or segregate people with disabilities or weaken programs that support them.

Wisconsin’s Special Olympics World Games gold medalist and outstanding disability advocate, Olivia Quigley, has died at the age of 25. Olivia had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015.

Olivia was adopted at the age of 3 from China by her parents, Dan and Judy- a former Disability Rights Wisconsin board member. Olivia had a diagnosis of autism, lived in her own apartment and was a success story for the Project Search program that supports young people with disabilities in community jobs. She excelled at her job at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and was a role model for countless other young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In 2015 ESPN named Olivia to their Impact25 list of influential women in sports and she received the inaugural Inspiration Award. She was also honored as a Hometown Hero by the Wisconsin State Assembly and received a standing ovation on the floor of the Assembly.

The Justice Department clarified that the Americans with Disabilities Act’s integration mandate applies in all aspects of a person’s life, including the employment context. “The civil rights of persons with disabilities, including individuals with mental illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, or physical disabilities, are violated by unnecessary segregation in a wide variety of settings, including in segregated employment, vocational, and day programs.”

This month we will conclude the topic on Extra Help with Medicare Part D costs. We will focus on Medicaid eligibility and what it can do to help you with your Medicare and Part D costs. If eligible, you will pay the lowest costs for your Medicare Part D drugs and eliminate the coverage gap.

What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that assists with the medical costs of people with low income, and low resources. Each state establishes its own eligibility guidelines, administers its own program, and determines the covered services. You can have both Medicare and Medicaid. If you are a dual eligible beneficiary –a person enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid– Medicare pays first, and Medicaid pays second. Medicaid may cover services that Medicare does not, like some dental, vision and personal care. It can also help cover Medicare’s out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles, coinsurances, and copayments.

What is a Medicare Savings Program (MSP)?
Also administered by Medicaid are the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) which help pay for some of your Medicare health costs if you have limited income. There are three types of MSPs, and each helps pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium and one also helps pay Medicare costs like deductibles, copayments, and coinsurances. To qualify for a MSP, you must have Medicare Part A and meet the income and asset eligibility guidelines. If you’re unsure of whether you qualify, you should still apply because certain types of income and assets do not count when determining whether you qualify for a MSP.

Types of Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) in Wisconsin:

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) • Pays your Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurances.
• You can have both QMB and Medicaid.
• Coverage is not retroactive. Benefits begin on the first of the month after your eligibility is approved.
• Income eligibility at or below 100 percent of FPL.

Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) • Pays your Medicare Part B premium.
• You can have both SLMB and Medicaid.
• Offers 3-month retroactive coverage prior to application date, as long as you were eligible during those months.
• Income eligibility set at 100 percent to 120 percent of FPL.

Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary Plus (SLMB+) • Pays your Medicare Part B premium.
• You cannot have both SLMB + and Medicaid.
• Offers 3-month retroactive coverage prior to application date, as long as you were eligible during those months. However, coverage can only be provided within the current calendar year. For example, if you apply in January, you will not receive retroactive coverage.
• Income eligibility set at 120 percent to 135 percent of FPL.

For general Medicare questions, call DRW at 1-800-928-8778. For Medicare Part D questions, call the Disability Drug Benefit Helpline at 1-800-926-4862. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or visit www.medicare.gov to find out if Medicare covers your test, service, or item.

Disability Rights Wisconsin seeks a Volunteer & Training Coordinator to develop a statewide volunteer legal advocate network. Duties include recruitment, training, support, and retention of pro bono attorneys and advocates. Successful candidates will be able to convey passion for serving victims of crime and abuse with disabilities in a way that compels others to volunteer their time, and to develop a system of professional support for volunteer advocates and attorneys. Travel required. Full time/benefits. For a detailed position description click here.

EEO/AA employer committed to a diverse workforce. Submit resume and cover letter to hr@drwi.org. Deadline: Nov 7, 2016 to be considered for 1st round of interviews.

Disability Rights Wisconsin is seeking an attorney to manage and provide legal oversight of our statewide Victim Advocacy programs. The successful candidate will have a working knowledge of the criminal justice and victim response systems, ability to lead and supervise a team of advocates, manage grant outcomes and write reports on deadline. Previous experience working with victims of crime and people with disabilities from a trauma informed perspective preferable. Member Wisconsin Bar. Full time/benefits. Detailed position description at Managing Atty Position Description.

EEO/AA employer committed to a diverse workforce. Submit resume, cover letter, and short writing sample to hr@drwi.org. Deadline: November 6th, to be considered for 1st interviews.

Disability Rights Wisconsin is seeking an Advocacy Specialist to work in our SSI Managed Care External Advocacy Project and the Medicare Part D Helpline Project. This is a limited term appointment, with a possibility of extension. This position can be located in our Madison or Milwaukee offices and will provide statewide advocacy, information and outreach to SSI-related Medicaid recipients enrolled in managed care plans and Medicare Part D. Successful candidates will have previous experience with public benefits such as SSI and Med D and experience with people with disabilities. Bachelor’s Degree in related field or equivalent experience. Excellent salary and fringe benefits. For detailed position description click here.

EEO/AA employer committed to a diverse workforce. Submit resume and cover letter to hr@drwi.org. Deadline: Oct. 31, 2016 to be considered for first round of interviews. Will remain open until filled.

DRW's most recent IRS 990 form, bylaws, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are available upon request from the following address: Click here to contact the Webmaster

Disability Rights Wisconsin’s website may contain links to third party websites. These links are provided solely as a convenience to you and not as an endorsement by Disability Rights Wisconsin of the contents on such third-party websites. Disability Rights Wisconsin is not responsible for the content of linked third-party sites and does not make any representations regarding the content or accuracy of materials on such third party Web sites.